Steam pipe for locomotive engines



Jan. 31, 1928.

E. E. MURRAY STEAM PIPE FOR LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES Filed March 31. 1926 concave u cocoon-20cc 000000 can adi .INVENTOR AITORNEYS Patented Jan. 31, 1928.

3 UNITED STATES 1,657,760 PATENT OFFICE.

EMSLIE E. MURRAY, 01 SCHENEC'IADY, NEW YORK.

STEAM PIPE FOR LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES.

Application filed March 31, 1926. Serial No. 98,850.

It has been the practice in the installation of steam pipes for the rear cylinder group to providetwo separate pipes, one extending. along one sideof the boiler to feed the cylinders on the same side, and another ex tending along the other side of the boiler to feed the cylinders on that side. This construction has been open to the objection that it necessitated a duplication of parts with a correspondingly excessive weight, cost of construction, and wastage of valuable space.

In order to do away with the objectionable features referred to I have provided a steam feed pipe structure for the rearward group of cylinders which consists of a single pipe extending along one side of the boiler to the position of the rear cylinders. At this point the pipe is provided with a branch extending beneath the shell of the boiler to the cylinders on the other side.

The improvement claimed is hereinafter fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side view, in elevation, certain of the parts being diagrammatically indicated, of a compound articulated locomotive, embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a transverse section. on an enlarged scale, taken on the line II, II, of Fig. 1; and, Fig. 3, a plan view, on

an enlarged scale, of the branch pipe connection used in my invention.

In the practice of my invention, referring descriptively to the specific embodiment thereof which is herein exemplified, as ap plied to a steam locomotive of the Mallet articulated compound type, a pair of low pressure cylinders, 5, is located in a forward position with relation to the smoke box portion 6, of a boiler 7 A second engine unit including cylinders 8, is mounted to the rear of the forward portion of the boiler 7 The truck 9, which carries forward cylinders 5, has an articulated connection at 10, with the rearward framework 11, which carries the rear cylinders 8 and supports the boiler 7.

lVith this construction the forward engine unit 5 is free to swing laterally with respect to the boiler, as is characteristic with this type of locomotive.

An important feature of the present invention resides in the means provided for supplying steam tothe valve chests 12, of the rear high pressure cylinders 8. This means takes the formof a single steam supply pipe 13, extending along one side of the boiler from the forward end thereof to the position of the rear cylinders 8, the pipe 13 being provided with a branch 14, extending across the space beneath the boiler to provide a steam.

supply connection with the steam chest 12 on the other side of the locomotive. The single mam steam supply pipe 13, which is thus utilized to supply steam to each of the cylinders 8, is formed with a suitable cross-section to carry the double supply of steam thus required, as compared with the volume of steam carried by each of the two separate steam supply pipes heretofore used for this purpose. The branch pipe 14 is reduced in size, as will be apparent, to supply the steam required for one of the two cylinders 8. The branch pipel is provided with a. T-

head portion 15, which has a ball-joint ring connection 16 with the main steam supply pipe 13. and a similar connection at 17, between the reduced portion 18, of the T-head 15 and an elbow pipe section 19, which forms an inlet connection to the valve chest 12 of the right hand cylinder 8.

The forward end of the lateral or main steam pipe 13 is equipped with a telescopic or slip joint 20, to provide for longitudinal expansion and contraction of the pipe 13, in response to temperature changes which affeet the length thereof. The slip joint 20, referredto, is interposed bet-ween the forward end of the main steam supply pipe 13 and an elbow 21, which is connected to a branch pipe 22. mounted in and following the curvature of the shell of the smoke box 6, already referred to. The branch pipe 22 connects at its upper end with the header 23 of the super-heater or directly with the main steam supply pipe 24, which leads from the throttle valve 25, mounted in the dome 26. It will. thus beseen that but a sin gle supply pipe branch is mounted in the smoke box chamber, in lieu of the two branch supply pipes heretofore employed for that purpose.

While I have referred to a throttle located in the boiler dome 26, I wish it to be understood that the branch supply pipe 22 may be connected directly to the throttle chamber located in the smoke box to control the flow of steam in the supply pipe after it has passed through the super-lieater.

In order to protect the steam pipes 13 and 14 from the cooling action of the atmosphere, they are preferably encased in lagging, formed of any suitable heat insulating material as in standard practice.

Itwill be seen that by the use of the single longitudinally extending steam supply pipe 13, with a connecting transversely extending branch pipe 14, in the region of the rear cylinder 8, I liave succeeded in providing a supply of steam to the two rear cylinders Without necessitating the use of two separate steam supply pipes mounted on opposite sides of the boiler shell. I have thus succeeded in avoiding a duplication of parts and have correspondingly decreased the weight of material used, as WCll as the cost of construction, and, in addition, have provided space on one side of the boiler in which other necessary attachments to the boiler shell can be placed.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a steam locomotive of the type having cylinders mounted to the rear of the forward end of the boiler, a single steam pipe line communicating with the throttle chamber and extending downwardly along one side of the smoke box, said pipe line passing through the smoke box shell and extending rearwardly along a lower portion of one side of the boiler shell to supply steam to one of said cylinders, and a branch pipe extending from said line across the space heneath the boiler to supply steam to the cylinder on the other side of the locon'iotive.

In a locomotive comprising a boiler, a smoke box, a group of cylinders mounted to the rear of the forward end of the boiler, each cylinder having a superposed distribution valve chest, one of the cylinders being disposed on each side of the locomotive; a

single steam pipe leading down through the smoke box and through the lower portion of a side wall thereof, for supplying steam to all of the valve chests of the group; a single steam pipe connected to the first-mentioned pipe and extending throughout its length along the lower portion of a side of the boiler, to the valve chest on such side; and a branch pipe extending from said second-n'ientioned pipe, across the boiler, to the valve chest on the opposite side thereof.

Signed at New York, in the county and State of New York, this 26th day of March, 1926.

EMSLIE E. MURRAY. 

